Blackburn2 - 2Blackpool

Junior Hoilett struck deep into injury time as Blackburn fought back from 2-0 down to salvage a vital point against relegation rivals Blackpool.

Charlie Adam netted a disputed penalty after Ryan Nelsen caught Gary Taylor-Fletcher in the box, before adding a second with a superb 25-yard free-kick.

Chris Samba slammed home from 17 yards to reduce the deficit, prompting on onslaught on the visitors' goal.

And when Richard Kingson failed to deal with a free-kick, Hoilett headed in.

The Tangerines furiously questioned the last-gasp leveller, claiming goalkeeper Kingson had been fouled when he came to collect a lofted ball into the box from his opposite number Paul Robinson.

It was one of many contested refereeing decisions in a fast and feisty Lancashire derby, but few could argue that both sides deserved a point after a classic game of two halves.

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway recently pledged to curb his team's attacking enthusiasm to help preserve their Premier League status but there was little evidence of caution in a cavalier display that typified their season.

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Kean praises Blackburn spirit

After the Tangerines had raced into a two-goal lead with their first two attacks, the shell-shocked hosts produced a determined display after the break to mount an unlikely comeback.

It leaves the sides on 33 points each, just three points above the bottom of the table in an increasingly congested relegation battle.

Rovers started brightly and created a number of early openings, the best falling to Steven Nzonzi who miscued a header wide after being teed up by Roque Santa Cruz.

Blackpool thought they had scored with their first attack when Luke Varney volleyed in an Adam free-kick but their celebrations were cut short by an extremely late offside flag from the linesman, although the decision did look correct.

But a refereeing decision went the visitors' way moments later when Howard Webb awarded them a penalty after Nelsen caught Taylor-Fletcher with a sliding tackle just after Taylor-Fletcher had spooned a shot over the bar.

Webb waved away the furious Rovers protests and Adam, back in the Tangerines' side after a two-match ban, stepped up to stroke the penalty into the bottom corner.

Four minutes later, the inspirational Scot doubled Blackpool's lead in spectacular fashion - dinking a 25-yard free-kick into the top corner as Rovers keeper Paul Robinson watched on helplessly.

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Holloway critical of referee Webb

Rovers looked shell-shocked for the remainder of the half and a woeful sliced effort from Hoilett just before the break summed up an insipid display that drew loud boos from the home fans at half-time.

The hosts responded with a blistering start to the second half, in which they almost pulled one back within seconds of the restart when Nzonzi side-footed inches wide from 15 yards.

But their goal was not long coming - Samba keeping his composure to fire home after Hoilett and Mame Biram Diouf had shots blocked in a desperate goalmouth scramble.

It set up an assault on the visitors' goal that lasted for the remainder of the match with some heroic - and some desperate - Blackpool defending keeping Rovers at bay.

Jermaine Jones hammered a strike against the upright, Diouf skewed an effort wide and Samba was unlucky not to score a second when his goalbound volley hit a team-mate - substitute Jason Roberts - on the line.

Blackpool looked dangerous on the break - Jason Puncheon twice had fierce drives well saved by Robinson - but Rovers continued to create the best chances and they hit the woodwork for a second time when Hoilett's backheel struck the post.

It looked as if that pressure would come to nothing until Robinson punted a hopeful free-kick into the box three minutes into added time and the ball was cleared straight to Hoilett, who nodded into an unguarded net with Kingson off his line.

16:39 Ryan Nelsen crosses the ball, Steven Nzonzi has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of
the target.

16:04 Inswinging corner taken from the left by-line by Brett Emerton.

15:53 David Hoilett crosses the ball, Craig Cathcart manages to make a clearance.

14:22 Effort from outside the penalty area by David Hoilett goes wide left of the target.

12:32 Unfair challenge on Mame Diouf by Charlie Adam results in a free kick. Brett Emerton restarts play with the free kick, Headed
effort on goal by Roque Santa Cruz from just inside the box goes harmlessly over the target.

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